Cheap preheat

[DrBill]

For the past few weeks i have planned somePNP flights with some cold mornings so i built a cheap preheater and tried it out this weekend. The heater is simply a 100 watt bulb in a lamp socket and a 2nd in a porcelain fixture. They are wired together to a timer switch. The loose bulb i placed up through the cowl vent over the gear close to the oil pan. The fixture goes under the dash right behind the gear lever. I set the timer to come on at midnite and go off at 9am.
Without it i measured temps. Hangar metal away from plane was 40deg one morning around 9. The wings were c38. Thru the oil svc port the engine to was c36.
Sat nite i plugged it in and Sun at 8 i measured hangar wall 34, WINGS 35, engine top 52!
I did no measure inside but it was noticeably warmer than outside.
I put two bath towels over the top(all i had there) of cowl.
I'd say it works. I made it with 2 bulbs for the engine but only have one now.
Pictures coming after next trip to airport. I only plan to turn on when using plane next morning.
Bill